Best Debut: With 13 homers and 59 RBIs, 1B Jason Lane (6) was among the top sluggers in the short-season New York-Penn League and showed no problems converting from the outfield to first base.

Best Athlete: Six-foot-5, 220-pound OF Mike Rosamond (1) has four plus tools and the ability to play center field, but must improve his hitting skills to take advantage of his athleticism. He went 1-for-10 in the Class A Midwest League after hitting .265-6-24 in 230 at-bats at short-season Auburn.

Best Hitter: SS Jon Helquist (9) showed above-average bat speed out of high school and could develop power as he fills out.

Best Power: Rosamond generates outstanding power and bat speed from his long arms. Lane doesnt have Rosamonds bat speed, but hes strong and has more polish at the plate.

Fastest Runner: Rosamond is an above-average runner, but isnt in the class of OF Gavin Wright, a draft-and-follow sign from the 33rd round of the 1998 draft who runs the 60-yard dash in 6.4 seconds. Wright stole 32 bases at Rookie-level Martinsville and was caught only once.

Best Defensive Player: If the Astros ever decide to put someone in center field instead of Rosamond, he can become an even better defensive right fielder with his range and arm strength.

Best Fastball: RHP Jim Barrett (3) tops out at 95 mph, but he is raw and doesnt always throw that hard. RHP Travis Anderson (2) is consistently clocked at 91-93 mph.

Most Intriguing Background: 3B Royce Huffman (12) was an all-America candidate as a punter at Texas Christian. His family already had Astros season tickets. Rosamond, Houstons top selection, was picked in the 71st round by the Astros out of high school in 1996.

Closest to the Majors: Anderson has a sinker/slider combination that could send him to the upper minors quickly if he masters his control. RHP Nick Roberts (7), also is on the fast track. The 23-year-old went 4-2, 1.90 in 47 innings at Martinsville.

The One That Got Away: The Astros failed to sign RHP Bryan Edwards (15) and his 96 mph fastball as a draft-and-follow from the 38th round of the 98 draft, but they drafted him one more time and will try again.

Best Non-Draft Sign: Wright gives the organization a pure centerfield prospect, and at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, he has a chance to add strength.

Summary: The Astros drafted a large number of college seniors in the upper rounds, but still managed to find a good mix of talent and experience. Their Martinsville affiliate, featuring mostly 1999 picks, won the Rookie-level Appalachian League title.

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